System and method for including packets with goods during automated packaging
First Claim
1. A method of removably affixing a packet onto the wrapper of a packaged product, comprising:
- (a) providing a packet placement system comprising;
a first packet placer configured to sequentially travel through a pick-up position, a home position, and a drop-off position;
a first magazine configured to present a first packet to the first packet placer; and
a gluing mechanism disposed adjacent said magazine;
(b) activating said packet placer to pick up said first packet from the magazine in the pick-up position;
(c) as the packet travels from the pick-up position towards the drop-off position, activating the gluing mechanism to blow a helical stream of glue onto said packet; and
(d) removably affixing the packet to the outer surface of said wrapper.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention comprises a packet placing system for use with an automated packaging machine. Preferably, the system is used to include packets with products being automatically packaged, such as various bread products. The system may comprise various magazine orientations and arrangements for holding packets, a packet placer, and a gluing system. Preferably, the packet placer includes a vacuum system configured to pick a packet from the magazine. Glue is applied to a face of the packet, which is then placed on the outside of the wrapper of the packaged product. The system may be used in conjunction with a packet insertion mechanism in order to both insert a packet inside the wrapper and removably affix a packet to the outside of the wrapper. The invention also comprises methods of using the system.
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Citations
95 Claims
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1. A method of removably affixing a packet onto the wrapper of a packaged product, comprising:
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(a) providing a packet placement system comprising; a first packet placer configured to sequentially travel through a pick-up position, a home position, and a drop-off position; a first magazine configured to present a first packet to the first packet placer; and a gluing mechanism disposed adjacent said magazine; (b) activating said packet placer to pick up said first packet from the magazine in the pick-up position; (c) as the packet travels from the pick-up position towards the drop-off position, activating the gluing mechanism to blow a helical stream of glue onto said packet; and (d) removably affixing the packet to the outer surface of said wrapper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A packet placing system for use with an automated packaging machine, comprising:
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(a) a first packet placer configured to sequentially travel through a pick-up position, a home position, and a drop-off position; (b) a first magazine configured to present a first packet to the packet placer; and (c) a gluing mechanism disposed adjacent said magazine, wherein the packaging machine comprises a conveyor to convey a product and a bagging mechanism for packaging said product in a wrapper, the packet placer picking up said first packet from said first magazine in the pick-up position, the gluing mechanism spraying said first packet with a helical glue pattern as the packet travels from the home position to the drop-off position, and, in the drop-off position, the packet being removably affixed to an outside surface of said wrapper containing the product. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A packet placement system for placing a packet onto the wrapper of a packaged product, the system comprising:
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(a) a first packet placer configured to sequentially travel through a pick-up position, a home position, and a drop-off position; (b) a first magazine configured to present a first packet to the packet placer, the packet placer being configured to pick up said first packet from said first magazine in the pick-up position; and (c) a gluing mechanism disposed adjacent said magazine to blow glue to said first packet with a helical glue pattern as the packet travels from the home position to the drop-off position, wherein, in the drop-off position, the packet placer is configured to removably affix the packet to an outside surface of the product'"'"'s wrapper. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 93, 94, 95)
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91. The packet placement system of 86, wherein said wrapper has a barcode and said packaging machine further includes means for reading said barcode.
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92. The packet placement system of 91, wherein said means for reading is disposed so as to read the barcode after packaging of said product with said wrapper and prior to placement of said first packet on the packaged product.
Specification